The Global Mercy Surgical Ship Experience

The Mercy Ships organization continues to offer surgical support in Africa. The decision to focus on Africa developed with the realization of the great need for free and safe surgery. Fifty percent of the West African population is located along the coast. The Africa Mercy and Global Mercy surgical ships offer care to those living on the coast and also throughout the country.  Globally, 5 billion people lack access to safe surgery. Children and adults die every day from treatable surgical treatment. 

Managing the operational details of a ship requires a full time captain, engineers, and many deck crew to keep everything in excellent ship shape.

My single cabin became a sanctuary for relaxation at the end of busy days. My schedule as a counselor for the crew was meaningful and filled with amazing stories of Mercy Ship experiences.

The Global Mercy surgical ship arrived in Sierra Leone for the first time for time on 22 August 2023. Mercy Ships has done many prior field service times in Sierra Leone. This is the second and final field service in my Mercy Ships commitment.

The Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary

The Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary is located within a beautiful luch green rain forest and part of the Sierra Leone National part. The well known zoologist, Dr. Jane Goodall, worked with the sanctuary's founder to protect chimpanzees and inspire people to conserve the natural world we all share. In Sierra Leone, the chimpanzee population has decreased from 20,000 to 5,500 in the last few decades. The chimpanzee is Sierra Leone's National Animal and there are newly created protection laws are being established. 

Beautiful love between mother chimpanzee and her child.